UAW announces union campaign at Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama

A Mercedes-Benz C-Class frame moves down the production line at a factory in Alabama. Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images A Mercedes-Benz C-Class frame moves down the production line at a factory in Alabama. Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images UAW announces union campaign at Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama The US autoworkers’ union plans to bring more employees under… Continue reading UAW announces union campaign at Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama

Australians paying hundreds more for fuel due to government inaction on efficiency standards, advocates say

The cost of filling up an average Australian car is more than double the cost of more efficient models common overseas, according to Climate Council analysis. Photograph: Tim Wimborne/Reuters The cost of filling up an average Australian car is more than double the cost of more efficient models common overseas, according to Climate Council analysis.… Continue reading Australians paying hundreds more for fuel due to government inaction on efficiency standards, advocates say

Electric car sales in UK flatline, prompting calls for VAT cut

The industry is calling for the government to halve VAT on all new electric vehicle purchases. Photograph: John Walton/PA The industry is calling for the government to halve VAT on all new electric vehicle purchases. Photograph: John Walton/PA Electric car sales in UK flatline, prompting calls for VAT cut Stalled growth in electric vehicles comes… Continue reading Electric car sales in UK flatline, prompting calls for VAT cut

Utes and SUVs make up entire top 10 in record year of new car sales in Australia

SUVs and light commercial vehicles – a category that includes utes – accounted for 78.4% of all new car sales in Australia in 2023. Photograph: 3dan3/Getty Images/iStockphoto SUVs and light commercial vehicles – a category that includes utes – accounted for 78.4% of all new car sales in Australia in 2023. Photograph: 3dan3/Getty Images/iStockphoto Utes… Continue reading Utes and SUVs make up entire top 10 in record year of new car sales in Australia

Big carmakers lobbied UK to weaken or delay electric car rules

Rishi Sunak (right) and his chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, during a visit to the Nissan factory in Sunderland in November. Photograph: Ian Forsyth/PA Rishi Sunak (right) and his chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, during a visit to the Nissan factory in Sunderland in November. Photograph: Ian Forsyth/PA Big carmakers lobbied UK to weaken or delay electric car rules… Continue reading Big carmakers lobbied UK to weaken or delay electric car rules

MasterChef review made me laugh my Pollocks off | Brief letters

Stuart Jeffries’ review of BBC One’s MasterChef: Battle of the Critics is ‘a masterly piece of observation’, according to reader Mat Watkinson. Photograph: Getty Stuart Jeffries’ review of BBC One’s MasterChef: Battle of the Critics is ‘a masterly piece of observation’, according to reader Mat Watkinson. Photograph: Getty Letters MasterChef review made me laugh my… Continue reading MasterChef review made me laugh my Pollocks off | Brief letters

‘Drama magnet’: Elon Musk’s biggest headlines of 2023

The name change to X aside, there has been no evidence of a major strategic transformation at the platform formerly known as Twitter. Photograph: John G Mabanglo/EPA The name change to X aside, there has been no evidence of a major strategic transformation at the platform formerly known as Twitter. Photograph: John G Mabanglo/EPA ‘Drama… Continue reading ‘Drama magnet’: Elon Musk’s biggest headlines of 2023

UK installed a record 16,000 public electric car chargers in 2023

The first of three electric vehicle charging ‘HyperHubs’ planned for York opens offering 175kW ultra-rapid chargers as well as the slower 50kW version. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian The first of three electric vehicle charging ‘HyperHubs’ planned for York opens offering 175kW ultra-rapid chargers as well as the slower 50kW version. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian UK… Continue reading UK installed a record 16,000 public electric car chargers in 2023

Do electric cars really produce fewer carbon emissions than petrol or diesel vehicles?

Heavy traffic on the M25 in southern England. Photograph: Maureen McLean/Shutterstock Heavy traffic on the M25 in southern England. Photograph: Maureen McLean/Shutterstock Do electric cars really produce fewer carbon emissions than petrol or diesel vehicles? In part five of our series exploring myths surrounding EVs, we assess the greenwashing claims Are EVs too costly to… Continue reading Do electric cars really produce fewer carbon emissions than petrol or diesel vehicles?

Toyota recalls 1m cars over defect that could cause airbags not to deploy

The vehicles being recalled have sensors in the front passenger seat that may have been manufactured improperly. Photograph: David Sillitoe/The Guardian The vehicles being recalled have sensors in the front passenger seat that may have been manufactured improperly. Photograph: David Sillitoe/The Guardian Toyota recalls 1m cars over defect that could cause airbags not to deploy… Continue reading Toyota recalls 1m cars over defect that could cause airbags not to deploy